Nia Banks, MD, PhD

I can't express enough gratitude for Dr. Banks. After a previous surgery left me with a huge seroma and a hole in one of my breasts due to subpar work from the initial plastic surgeon, Dr. Banks stepped in and worked wonders. Her expertise and attention to detail were evident from the start. She listened to my concerns, provided clear explanations, and delivered results that exceeded my expectations. Thanks to her, I feel confident and happy with my appearance again. I also want to give a shoutout to her amazing team for their support and professionalism throughout the process. Highly recommend Dr. Banks for anyone seeking top-notch care and results.

Hi! So after year and years of hating my stomach I final decide to get the laser lipo done to the top and bottom of my abdomen. Yesterday was my procedure. I don’t remember much but I do remember being in pain towards the end when she was working around my rib cage areas. That was painful and I cried.

Something I don’t do much of. I think for this reason I would of preferred to be put under. I spoke with Dr. Banks throughout the procedure but don’t really remember much of our conversation. Dr. Banks was easy to talk to. I haven’t gotten my phone call yet but it is only 6am. I do feel that the pain meds are not enough.

I am in more pain today then I expected to be and on have a few pills left. Also, please make sure you put a cover on your bed because you will make a mess. I didn’t listen to this part and woke up with the whole bed saturated with liquid. I will post a before pictures and will post after pictures once I can remove and shower. I’m excited to see results!



Updated on 6 Jun 2021:
I was able to shower for the first time . I am happy so far with my results . If it looks this good after day 3 it’s going to look AMAZING in a few weeks ! Definitely buy a extra stomach shaper before surgery because the one I have the Dr gave is a bit uncomfortable and dirty from saline and blood (I’ve ordered one since ) but had to wear this one for a week until my new one came . Still sore but no pain and moving around normally !

Updated on 11 Jun 2021:
I did meet with the Dr . Yesterday for a few minutes . I am healing fast and my results are AMAZING. They said I would get even flatter after the swelling goes down . I am not sure how much flatter I can get but if this is the end result I am SO happy! No more high waisted baithing suites for me!! No more belly budge .

Updated on 14 Jun 2021:
I am going into my second week and my swelling has gone down, my 2 incision sites are barely noticeable!! I believe this is my end result , I don’t know how it could get flatter then this . Easiest procedure I have ever done !!

Updated on 17 Jul 2021:
Hey guys , it’s been awhile … so today I seen myself in a bikini pic for the first time … unfortunately I was not really happy . I have been very happy with my results up until now and I’m starting to get concerned .. am I still swollen ? Will this go down more or even out ? Should I reach out to my Dr.? If he see my prior posts I’ve been EXTREMELY happy until I saw this picture today :( please tell me it’s going to look better .

Updated on 17 Jul 2021:
I saw this pic today and noticed my stomach and was pretty freaked out … 6 weeks since procedure done … still looks swollen , uneven , I’m very surprised please tell me this isn’t my end result ?

Updated on 17 Jul 2021:
6 weeks in and I was not happy what I saw in this picture ??? Is this normal? Please tell me this isn’t my end result ? I was extremely happy until I saw this picture … Why does it look like this , uneven and even swollen still ?

I would say my experience was good. I have a scar on my upper lip under my nose. It happen as a child around 8 years old and I am now over 50. The scar has always bothered me and I decided to have plastic surgery in hopes it would not be so noticeable. My surgery was on 9.21.16 and I am still healing. I felt comfortable with Dr. Banks. I think the support staff could use some improvement regarding communication. There were several instances where my calls were not returned. There were also scheduling issues, but finally we were able to work through it. I would recommend Dr. Banks and I hope that there can be some improvements with her support staff.

I love my experience at Beaux art Institute Dr.Banks and Kim made me feel so comfortable from the time i called in for information Kim and I chatted on the phone like we had known each other when it was time to set up my consultation after procedure they both called to check on me and reasure me that everything i was experiencing was normal. I went back after my mommy makeover and had another round of lipo because i had maxed out on fat removal the first time around because i also had my legs and knees done too when i did the mommy makeover I havr already begin see major results. I am so glad i found them because everystep of my journey of my transformation they have been supportive and honest as to what realistic results i would see. I trusted them so much i even had Dr.Banks repair my 9 year old ear for me.You want a new body in more ways then one call Kim to schedule an appointment . I will post pics by 4/10/2016 of before and after

Updated on 14 Apr 2016:
So i had 2 session of lipo suction because when i got my tummy tuck the doctor didnt lipo one portion of my stomach under breast now im upset because i have this pouch under my belly button and scar its just fat looks tacky like camel foot i went back to her and ask her why was it there she says its fat i said but why because i thought you took care that first time and when i brought it to your attention second time you said you would hit that area again she said i dont remember that which is a lie and said if you want me to do that area you would need to pay again im like but that area was original supposed to be done im not happy and uncomfortable wearing certain things her staff was understanding she even said dont pay again just try work out and i should see more results and about 2 more months but the doctor said oh thats not going anywhere its been 2months already most swelling gone you will need to get that lipo first i was happy thinking ok i see results other places but then she shut my soul down saying i had pay again then my back was suppose been lipo she told me before surgery i would only have crease no fat now she tells me i need pay for bra line lift which is another 10,000 im so upset and wish i would have went to Dr.Curves in beginning i spent to much cash with her and im unhappy now

I decided to get liposuction because I have no issue with maintaining my current weight and being happy. What frustrated the hell out of me was sitting down and my stomach being in my lap. It was really too much for me. I felt like if I lost weight I'd lose the weight in places that I want the weight to stay....nothing ages us ladies like a bony face (that's totally my opinion). So, I decided to pay a dam good plastic surgeon to help me get closer to my ideal shape. The first PS I went to, Dr. Robert Rodriguez, near Baltimore was awesome. I loved his pictures, I felt confident in his work and his team was just as great as he was. Then I met with Dr. Banks. It was a challenge getting an appointment with her because before you can even schedule a date you are required to pay $100 deposit. The money will go towards your procedure if you decide to choose her as your PS. However, I just can't do it. I can't pay you just to interview you.... just to see if I feel comfortable with you and my body. I totally get that consultations take up doctor's time and time is money but even with that being said I can't do it. Luckily for me, though, I had seen Dr. Banks before when I was trying to get a breast reduction and as an "established" patient the fee was not applicable. The day of my appointment I arrived at the office and was told by the receptionist that Dr Banks was running a little behind, that was fine with me because I had to fill out paperwork and all that jazz. I guess they run really, really on time because the time I had to wait really wasn't bad so it was not a big deal. Dr Banks came into the room, asked me what it was I was looking for, I explained to her that I wanted all the extra fat from my stomach and the side of my hips, my saddlebags, removed however I didn't want it to be hard I still wanted to stay soft, she totally understood what I was saying. She did not go on and on about what she could do for me, she simply restated her understanding of my idea to demonstrate that we were on the same page and that was that. She showed me some pictures, took some pictures of me and asked if I had any questions or concerns. After that I was off to see Mrs. Yvonne.... I'll continue on my next posting

Updated on 2 Jun 2015:


Updated on 3 Jun 2015:
I know I still have to finish my story from earlier but I started this review after my procedure was done so playing catch is hard. I'm posting pics from last night which would be 4 days post op. I feel great, I'm sore around the front of my stomach mostly but no bruising. The incisions Dr. Banks made are really small. I live in my compression garment and it only gets to me sometimes, and when it does I take it off, go take a shower, and put it right back on. I've been shopping for another one bit haven't found one that I think would be firm enough for me, yet.

I am very pleased with not only my procedure, but the mannerism of Doctor Banks. Good mannerism is very important to me, I experienced good both.
I am still a little sore just as she said I would be. If I ever need a surgeon she will always be on the top of my list. It was worth the pain. Staff is excellent.

Even though I have been pretty physically active for some time, and in post-menapause, I couldn't get the extra fat on my stomach and thighs to budge. In addition, I had bags under my eyes that made me look tired. I did my research for local plastic surgeons in their national professional society, and found four doctors in my vicinity. I vetted the two that were closest to my home. Dr. Banks and her staff won hands down! She and her staff are top notch! They were warm and welcoming, and Dr. Banks was so patient and accommodating regarding my husband and I asking questions about the procedure. She examined me (I wanted surgery on my thighs, flanks, stomach, and my under eye area), and was very thorough with explaining what would happen. She wanted to know my motivation for having these procedures done, and was very understanding. The whole experience - from consultation, to the surgery, to post-surgery, and finally the Velashape procedures afterwards, was an amazing and fulfilling experience. I had recommended her to two friends (one had a tummy tuck, the other had Smart Lipo) - they are both very satisfied! I have handed out her card to several people who had inquired about my procedure. I firmly believe in giving credit where credit is due. Thank you, Dr. Banks, and thank you to your wonderful staff!

I had anticipated getting a breast reduction for years to eliminate my back and neck pain but never found a doctor I was comfortable with until I met Dr. Banks. She came highly recommended by my PCP as well as my breast doctor. She is professional, extremely knowledgeable and beyond kind. She's very direct with what she plans to do and speaks plainly and not over your head. She anticipated my questions and answered them all before I could even ask. Her staff treated me like a VIP. My approval from Aetna came quickly which is a great indicator that her staff knows what they are doing. My surgery went well and my incisions healed quickly. Recovery was short and the pain was almost nonexistent. I work in the medical field and her reputation truly proceeds her. My nurse friends were impressed with the job she did on my breast reduction and say that looking at her work she is gifted. I went from a G cup to a DD. She gave my breasts a second life, they are gorgeous! And she gave me my life back as well. If you're thinking about a breast reduction go see her.

For about eight years I contemplated having a breast augmentation. I've always had hips and "backside", but had absolutely nothing up top! My breast were severely a-symmetrical ( at least to me lol) which made me extremely self conscious, I wouldn't wear the things I really wanted to because I was embarrassed about not having any breast. For years I allowed other people's opinion on plastic surgery dictate my decision. 2013 came and I finally decided to do what was best for me and although I appreciated the concern, other peoples opinion no longer mattered. I decided to actively pursue my dream of finally having the sexy, womanly shape I had always wanted. This was going to be a late birthday/early Christmas present to myself and I wanted the best surgeon I could find. Dr. Banks is an excellent surgeon. She put me at ease with the whole process. She was completely honest and detailed about the whole procedure and she patiently answered all of my questions. As I stated before, I was a- symmetrical and that was my main concern, but Dr. Banks was up for the challenge, she has proven that she is the best ! I decided to get saline implants , right side- 420cc, left side 310cc, under the muscle,crease incision and they look beautiful! My recovery process was pretty much average, I did not experience any unusual pain, just mainly sore for the first week or two. My breast were also sensitive to the touch, but again no unusual pain. My incisions healed beautifully, almost unnoticeable, Dr. Banks does impeccable work! Thanks to Dr. Banks I have the beautiful womanly shape I've always wanted and I will be enjoying girls night out more often and my favorite thing in the world, enjoying the beaches in the islands! I highly recommend Dr. Banks!

Updated on 27 Mar 2014:
I'm 33yrs old and I've had two kids both were breastfed. I started out as a 32a which I desprately hated and I was finally sick and tired and ready for a change. As far as I know, no one in my family has ever had any type of cosmetic surgery so I had no other reference but a friend at work and the my own research on the internet. I kept this to myself really up until I had the surgery date booked because I was determined to do this and I was not going to allow my self to be discouraged. I faced opposition from my husband and although I understood and respected his concern, ultimately, it was my decision. Having a breast augmentation has been a great experience for me and it is something that I do not regret at all! I love my new look and I can't wait to try other new things as well! Here are some tips that helped me : be sure that you are doing this for you and no one else,
Pick your surgeon carefully, watch how you are treated, if you feel that you are not being treated like a priority, choose another surgeon, you are spending your money and you deserve the best! Write your questions down before your dr visit so that you won't forget anything , listen to what your surgeon says will look best on you because usually they have good, realistic ideas. My next post will include surgery day tips as well as pics. See you then

Updated on 1 Apr 2014:
Here are a few before and after pics, just a couple, I will have more soon. The before pic as you will see, shows that I had absolutely nothing up top! The first after photo is one day after surgery still in the surgical bra, I will post more pics soon after, have to find them lol , I hope the ones a post are clear enough for you to see

Updated on 14 Apr 2014:
This month I will be five months post op and it feels like I've only had them for a few weeks. They have changed so much since I've had them and I thought I'd share. Immediately after surgery, of course they were swollen, but still uneven and I panicked ! lol, but then I had to calm myself down and remind myself that this was just the beginning and to just be patient. Since that first day they have been changing rapidly . Around month one, my left breast seemed to be dropping while the right one hadn't moved at all, so now I was lopsided lol ! Month two came along, my left breast had settled in well, while my right breast was being very stubborn, it was settling, but it was moving very slowly, and I think that may have been because the right breast required a larger implant than the left. Again I was growing a little impatient but I had to keep reminding myself that this is a healing process and it will not happen over night. By month three, my surgical scars had healed well and both breast were symmetrical and filling out nicely! Pre-op, I measured at a 32A and at the three month point, I measured at a 34D!! At that point I thought I was pretty much done with the healing process, but they have changed yet again! Now at the almost five month mark, I am measured at a 34DD and they look better and better every day, even my co worker complimented me on how nice they look lol ! I think they may be done settling for real this time lol, but I just wanted to share for someone that is maybe recently post op or still thinking about having it done. Just remember to just be patient, know that they will not be completely perfect, and know that healing is a process and everyone heals at different rates, just be patient!

Updated on 14 Apr 2014:
Here are a few updated photos at the five month mark

Background information:

So for quite some time I had been contemplating getting work done on my nose. After perusing through the vast amounts of information regarding Rhinoplasty on the net, it became clear to me that such an intrusive/costly surgery (not to mention the revision rate!) was not an option. And so the quest to find a feasible alternative began!

As a black female, it was important for me to find a surgeon who could truly deliver on the aesthetic front in a way that would compliment my features without compromising the overall appearance of my face. I have never had an issue with my nose per se but rather the lack of definition especially around the bridge/dorsum area. I proceeded to search for a plastic surgeon that I could associate with in terms of appearance. (Could a surgeon of color possibly be responsible for MJs, and so many others, botched up “nose jobs”- I think not!) I’ll get back to this point in greater detail later on in my review…

Juvederm/Artefill/ Radiesse/Restylane etc… Kill me! there were just too many fillers to choose from! Eventually, in time, with the assistance of Dr. Banks’ office personnel-Yvonne Jeffers, it became clear to me that Radiesse was the way to go, mainly for its durability/cost-effectiveness. I had quite a few back to backs with the office personnel through email. We scheduled an appointment within a couple of days of my initial inquiry. To save time, it was suggested that I fill out medical information forms through their “secure site”, computerization of medical records first I had ever heard of it. Who knows, it may be a reasonable liability to take on…

Initial impression:

As walked into the waiting room (15 min early), it was clear that the office personnel had anticipated my arrival. I presented myself and was told that I would be called back momentarily. As I waited I skimmed through a self-help book discussing mental health within our community. Just as the passage titles got interesting, I was called and brought back to the operating room, which was in no way a bittersweet moment as I had been anxiously waiting on meeting Dr. Banks! I waited in the room for no more than five minutes, which still afforded me a bit of time to read through an Essence magazine (I paid close attention to all of the beautiful black women featured in the magazine while thinking over my description of what I wanted done).
On the wall hung a framed canvas of what appeared to be Egyptian hieroglyphics, on the side stool laid two boxes of Juvederm and a box of Radiesse. Hmm…

Meeting Dr. Banks + Procedure

I was surprised by Dr. Banks’ overwhelming quaintness. She later brought to my attention that she was originally from North Carolina. We briefly discussed that… Dr. Banks asked me about how I found her private practice and I freely went through the points made in my “background information” section. Although we opted for the use of Radiesse, Dr. Banks explained to me why Juvederm and similar products could be the choice of preference under particular circumstances. In my case, I wanted to define my bridge area, Radiesse offers more volume and could last up to a year longer than Juvederm. The Juvederm box was swiftly put away. She explained the steps to the procedure and I was told what to expect in the end result. Dr. Bank with her great diction managed to break down complex notions of molding, depression, illusion of facial symmetry, into manageable language (which is always great especially when making even the most minor adjustment to your appearance). It was clear to me that I had found the right match in a plastic surgeon; Dr. Banks nearly completed my sentences. Lines were drawn, photos taken, as I shifted into Dr. 90210 land. It’s actually happening!

Dr. Banks gave me three shots of an anesthetic substance, one to my lower forehead area, the other two to my upper inner gums. My face was numbed to no point of return (so it seemed). Dr. Banks made anywhere between 5-7 injections, only one syringe was needed to reach my desired result. The whole procedure, after the numbing period, took no more that 8 minutes! The injections (and I have a low pain threshold) were comparable to being aggressively pinched by a kid or playfully pinched by a partner. Phew! It was actually the pressure in the nose that acted as an annoyance (it took a few days to get used to!)

The mirror was raised and…

OMG my it’s…

OMG it’s my nose! My new and improved nose that is! All my fears laid to rest. I was pleased with the results although I noticed a slight asymmetry. I was reminded that the asymmetry had already been there and if we were to choose to counterbalance it, it may become more obvious. I trusted Dr. Banks (and thank god I did) after two days the swelling, which was expected, had decreased drastically and with it, the slight asymmetry! When I assured Dr. Banks that I was pleased with the results, she gave me instructions of what to do and what to avoid. I followed her advice very carefully as I feared ruining her great work (and possibly waking up to a hooked nose!) We parted ways, I thanked her repeatedly and made an appointment for a follow-up visit. As the swelling in my nose went down along with my cheeks, I definitely started feeling myself.

“You’re glowing…”

Within a week of my procedure I was anxious to take headshots with a DC photographer and great friend of mines that I had worked with in the past to see how my face photographed. To my surprised, he did not notice any change! As he took the photos, I was showered with compliment! “You’re glowing!” " You're looking better than ever!" “You’re skin is looking flawless!” I was close to positive that as a photographer, he would be able to notice the slightest change as he must have familiarized himself with lighting, depth, contouring etc… Was it my skin? Had I lost weight? Makeup? I guess it’s just one of the many secrets that I will have to take to the grave with me.

Two-week follow-up

The follow-up did not last long as there was no need for rectification and I had no issue really. Dr. Banks graciously told me to contact her if anything came up while reassuring me that everything should be fine. I was kind of disappointed though when Dr. Banks informed me that she had just returned from Canada (stopover in Toronto, and wasn’t able to visit although I believe she had already visited a few times in the past and had a great appreciation for Canada!)

BTW I forgot …I think it’s very important to mention that, I do not reside in the United States. I would definitely encourage all people of color to cross over the border if seriously considering any operation involving the nose. The prices are higher in Canada (metropolitan), also good luck finding a cosmetic surgeon (let alone PLASTIC surgeon) of Dr. Banks’ caliber.

The overly enthusiastic tone of this review mirrors my overall satisfaction with Dr. Banks’ work. I’ll be back in 12-18 months!